Since the NBA last bounced a ball, one team has changed hands (Philadelphia) and another was sold only to have that deal fall apart (Atlanta).

All the while, a franchise that might have as great an impact as any in reshaping the league remains in the hands of the league (New Orleans).

While the NBA clearly had greater priorities these past five months, it is time to get the Hornets back into the ownership game. The longer the league continues to operate the Hornets, the longer the stench of the lockout will remain.

Why?

Here’s why: The terms of the soon-to-be-ratified collective-bargaining agreement still allow impending free agents to be dealt and signed to extensions. The Carmelo Rule did not make the final CBA cut.

So while he is saying all the right things right now, we’re at the starting line when it comes to Chris Paul being in position to force the Hornets’ hands.

Already, in these mere hours since the resolution of the lockout, the New York tabloids have been all over the Paul-to-Knicks angle (one that has validity considering the cap space the Knicks can amass for the 2012 offseason, when Paul has an opt-out).

The Heat also are believed to be willing to kick the Paul tires, if only to appease Paul summer running mates LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

And that’s where it gets sticky.

How can an NBA that stressed parity, parity, parity (Adam Silver apparently now has it tattooed on his bicep), allow itself to be in a position where the two teams that helped destroy the notion of parity in 2010-11 could be negotiating with it for one of the prime prizes of 2012 free agency (along with Dwight Howard)?

The Hornets need to be sold off . . . yesterday.

Such a deal might yet be forthcoming, although it’s not as if it couldn’t have transpired during the lockout, as evidenced by the machinations with the 76ers and Hawks.

But even the mere notion of the league, as de facto owner of the Hornets, negotiating with the Knicks regarding Paul would be an affront to all the small-market teams who put their faith in David Stern and Silver.

For now, Paul said he is not thinking about a possible sign-and-extend package, that his priority is to get settled back in New Orleans. Through all that franchise has endured, he has been the good soldier, from the recovery work to his charitable efforts. The All-Star point guard is viewed as one of the league’s good guys.

But as the league witnessed last season with Carmelo, these will-he-or-won’t-he stories get old in a hurry. If nothing else, the Nuggets deserve credit for acting swiftly and decisively with Anthony.

Now the Magic (with Howard) and the Hornets (with Paul) will have to do the same in coming weeks.

The difference is the Magic only have to move in their own best interests. There is no secondary agent there.

But as long as the NBA continues to operate the Hornets, the Chris Paul saga will remain as much about what is in the best interest of the league as what is in the best interest of the Hornets going forward.

It has come down to this — if you want to see NBA basketball soon, you need to root for the rational mind of James Dolan to prevail.

Yes, the Knicks’ James Dolan. The band front man and loyal friend of Isiah Thomas. That rational mind. He is now a guy you can pin your hopes on. And if you’re a Knicks fan, hope that he is really impressing people in the negotiations.

According to a players source, Dolan has been the least combative of the owners and often serves as a mediator during contentious moments.

“He’s tried to keep the parties on point,’’ the source said. “He’s trying to make a deal, seeing a positive spin. He’s been, in a word, productive.’’

Dolan has long been thought to be a dove — he’s a big market owner who was already making money, he’s got a buzz about his team now that he doesn’t want to kill, plus he’s got a new building (with new revenue streams) to christen.

For Knicks fans, there is a whole subtext to this — what few “concessions” the players have gotten could help build the Knicks up in the future. Again Berman.

According to multiple sources, one of the resolved issues in a new CBA is the 2011 salary cap will remain at the level as it was in 2010 — $58 million.

“That’s what we’ve been discussing, though the exact dollar amount is not set until the new deal is done,’’ said one league source, who added no new talks have yet been scheduled.

Economic projections from sources say the salary cap will then grow to about $60-$61 million in 2012, when the Knicks will have the largest cap space in the league and have room to woo either Chris Paul, Deron Williams or Dwight Howard, who are slated to become free agents. The Knicks could be at least $20 million under the projected 2012 cap.

Ironically, Dolan has been seated across from Paul, who is the Knicks’ top priority, during many of the labor bargaining sessions because Paul is on the union’s negotiation committee.

Of course, the longer the lockout drags on the more off those economic projections for the future will be. And the harder it will be on the Knicks to do anything. So Dolan is pushing to get a deal done. Now.

Come one New York, Dolan is your guy. Pull for him. Right now he’s the guy for all of us who want hoops. Which doesn’t make me feel comfortable.

Stunning revelation: Probably the best Knicks point guard ever thinks arguably the best point guard in the game today would be a good fit with the Knicks.

We’re big fans of Earl “The Pearl” Monroe — the one interview I’ve done where my father was thrilled I was doing it — and he spoke for pretty much every Knicks fan telling the New York Post he thinks CP3 would be a good fit.

“I’m quite sure he would relish being in the Big Apple,” said Monroe, who coached the New York City team vs. L.A. in yesterday’s inaugural People’s Games at Union Square. “He can handle this pressure. Obviously he’s one of the premier point guards in the league. To add that with what you already have, you got the real nucleus to having something special happen closer than in four years.”

Much like Dwight Howard, speculating about where Paul will land is futile until we see the new Collective Bargaining Agreement after the lockout. The Knicks may well not have the cap space to sign him as a free agent after locking down Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire. They are not flush with trade assets everybody wants. There are a lot of hurdles.

But yes, Paul would work well for the Knicks. I can say that about 29 other teams, too.

There was a lot of shock going around the league when news broke that the Jazz had traded Deron Williams to the New Jersey Nets. Fans, media and players were shocked — and that includes Deron Williams himself.

A lot of Jazz fans felt that way, but CP3? You’d think he’d love this deal. If the Nets can convince D-Will to sign an extension, that’s just less potential hurdle between him and the New York Knicks. This could make the Paul’s life less complicated.

At the very least, it moves Williams out of the West so Paul doesn’t have to face him quite so often.